Apparatus for disseminating weather information



NOV. 30, 1948. J. ANDERSON 2,455,210

APPARATUS FOR DISSEMINATING WEATHER INFORMATION Filed Dec. 23, 1947 5 She ets-Sheet 1 W Joseph B. Anderson Attornevs Nov. 30, 1948. J. B. ANDERSON 2,455,219

I APPARATUS FOR DISSEMINATING WEATHER INFORMATION Filed Dec. 23, 1947 5.Sheer.s-Sheet 2 E 1E.-.'Z..

43 r imil 1 Joseph B. Anderson Attorneys Nov. 30,1948. i J. B. ANDERSON zydsgyzw APPARATUS FOR DISSEMINATING WEATHER INFORMATION Filed Dec. 25, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 E2. CE: 15

Joseph B. Anderson 9% mam-rm Ari'ornevs Nov. 30, 1948. J. B. ANDERSON A 2,455,210

APPARATUS FOR DISSEMINATING WEATHER INFORMATION I Filed Dec. 23, 1.947 V 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3mm Joseph B. Anderson A Aflornevs Nov. 30, 1948. t J. B. ANDERSON 2,455,210

APPARATUS FOR DISSEMINATING WEATHER INFORMATICIN Filed Dec. 25, 1947 s Sheets-Sheets 1 1 s3 s4 e5 e {jZ Y n i Unfselector PolorIzed Re|0 I switch I: Q13 I rf Central Transmitting Station g E :1. I3, 11 II Weather lnd|cutor Units I 4 3mm Joseph B. Anderson f Y a e q M Attorneys Patented Nov. 30, 1948 APPARATUS .FOR DISSEMINATING WEATHER INFORMATION Joseph B. Anderson, lillashington, 1). 6.

Application December -23,,194r7, Serial .No. 793,5110

(Cl. I'M-53H) '2'Claims. 1. This invention relates to weather maps and has vmore particular reference to weathermaps incorporating visual indicating means for showing the :present and/or .iuture weather conditions at a pluralityofstations-on'the map representing towns and cities. 7

One objectof the present invention is toprovide .V-a weathenmap having a pluralityof stations representing towns-oricities outlined thereon and provided with means .tor visually indicating at each station the present or torecasted weather conditions of the station.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a Weather map, as characterized above, in which the indicating means include .movable members employing variouscolors, symbols and indicia-to indicate specific weather conditions.

:Another object of the invention is .to providela weather map, as characterized above, in which means are provided for illuminating themovable members to render theminore readily visible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a weatherm-ap, as'characterized above, :in which the indicating means include a projector and the movable means :are in the form -of a :film or filmstheirames of which employ various colors, symbols and .indicia used singly or in combination, to indicate specific weather :conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of weather maps, -as characterized above, in which themovable members are controlled and operated from a central control station.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a system for disseminating weather information at a plurality of remotely .separated receiving stations which are controlled and operated by .remote control from .a central transmitting station.

.Other objects and .advantagesof the invention will be apparent in the specification when .considered with the accompanying .drawings, wherein:

.Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a weatherman constructed .in accordance with the ;-pr.esent invention;

Fig. 2 is an .elevational -view of one form of an indicator .unit;

Fig.3 is ,a plan view, with parts broken away, of the indicator :unit shown in Fig. .2;

Fig. 4 is .a fragmentary vertical sectional View showing the manner in which the indicator runit shown in Fig. 2, is mounted;

Fig. dis a iragmentaryrelevationalxview showing a portion of the interior :of the cabinet and themanner in which the indicator unit shownin Fig..l2,.lis mounted;

Fig. -6 .isan elevational view of .a modified'form of an indicatorv unit;

Fig. '7 is ..a,p1an view with ,parts broken away, of the indicator unit s'hown in'Eig. 6;

.Eig. v8 is .a fragmentary view showing abracket on which the indicator .unit shown in Fig. 6, is adapted to be mounted} 'JEigJB is affragmentary eleva'tional view Show ing a portion of the interior of "the cabinet .and the manner in which the indicator unit shown. in Fig. 6, 'is mounted;

"Fig. 10 is a schematic {diagram showing a systern for operating .a plurality of weather maps from asingle transmitting. station;

Fig. 11 is .a schematic diagram showing the, electric wiring Jor operating the weather .map' 'by remote control;

Fig. 1-2 is .a perspective view of a controlbox for operating the weather map;

Fig. I3 'is a Ifrag mentary elevational view with parts'broken .away to show the interior of the control box shown in .Fig. '12;

Fig. '14 'is .a vertical sectional View taken on the,

A line T L-T4 O'fTFig. 1'3; and

.Fig. 15 isairagmentaryplan view showing one of the control devicesshown 'in Fig. 14.

*fIhe present invention constitutes an improvement over .the weather .mapdisclosed ;in my c.0- pending application, fSer. "No. 750,617; filed -IVIay 26, 1947, for Weather .map.

In the present invention, the translucent panel on which the mapis outlined andthe cabinet in.

use of'aLplurality-of weather :maps "employingiel'ectrically operated iin'dicator units which may be controllediiromsa remotely located central transmitting station. In such :a :system, the central control rstation may be located, for example, -:in

New York city, for singly or simultaneously controlling and operating the indicator units on weather maps located, for example, in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D. C., etc.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. l, a weather map constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in the form of a rectangular cabinet member ill. The front of the cabinet has hingedly secured thereto a map frame H, in which is suitably mounted a plate or panel member 12, on which is sketched, painted, or printed, a map 13 of a country or section thereof. The location of various towns and cities that transmit weather reports may be indicated by circles M with the name of the places indicated in close proximity to the circles. The plate 12 may be either translucent or the spring 32 will rotate the weather ring with a step by step motion.

The weather film 24 may be made of plastic or any of the usual materials employed in making a film for color projection and is divided into a plurality of picture areas or frames 34 which may be colored or uncolored and carry indicia to indicate a particular state of weather, temperature, ceiling, wind direction and velocity, or any other weather information.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the weather film is divided into twentyfive rectangular picture areas or frames. One of the frames is made opaque, the remaining frames are colored and may be provided with I which is appropriate to describe a specific opaque; in the latter event, the areas enclosed within the circles M are made translucent. In the particular embodiment shown, the plate I2 is preferably made of a translucent plastic material.

Mounted within the cabinet ID and preferably on the rear wall thereof, are a plurality of indicator units. These indicator units may be of two types, 1. e.,a.sin'gle film indicator unit or a multiple film indicator unit. A single film indicator is used to showthe ordinary weather conditions at a station, while one or more multiple indicatorunits may be used to show'numerous other weather conditions, particularly useful for aviation, such as ceiling, wind direction and ve- Iocity, visibility in yards, etc., in combination with various other weather conditions, such as rain, snow, etc.

The indicator units are mounted on the rear wall of the cabinet in a position in horizontal alignment with their corresponding station circles. When multiple film types of indicator units areemployed, one or more circles are used for a single station, as shown, for example at IS, in Fig.1, where Chicago employs three circles.

A preferred form of single film indicator unit and themanner in which it is mounted on the rear wall iii of thecabinet is shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5; "As there shown, each unit comprises a U-shaped frame member ll having top' and bottom walls I 8, IB held spacedapart by posts a projection unit 2| mounted within and adjacent to the open end of the frame member and s 'uitablysecured therein; a rotatable drum 22 mounted on a vertical shaft 23 suitably journalled in the top and bottom walls of the U- shaped frame; afilm 24 mounted on the drum 22 and positioned' to .pass through the projector unit; and an electro-magnetically operated unit, indicated generally at 25, for rotating the drum 22.1 The electro-magnetically operated unit 25 for rotating the drum 22 comprises a ratchet wheel. 26 fixedly mounted on the shaft 23 and operated by an operating fork 21, suitably mounted on one of the posts 20 and provided with a right angular armature portion 28; and an electro-magnet 29 suitably secured to the end wall 30 of the frame I! and provided with a core 3| cooperating with the armature portion 28 of the fork 21. When the magnet is energized, the operating fork 21 will be moved to turn the ratchet wheel26, and, upon de-energization of the magnet, the operating forlcwill be restored to its normal position by means of a spring 32 which is secured to the operating fork and a lug 33 depending from the top of the frame; the construction being such that the movements of the fork by the energization of the magnet and weather condition, such as rain, snow, frost, temmotion of the film may be accurately determined by the rotation of the drum 22.

In the particular embodiment shown, the projection unit 2| may be of the usual type employed for projecting on the rear of a screen. The projection unit comprises a lamp housing 3'! secured to the top and bottom walls l8, IQ of the U- shaped frame member; a lamp 3B and reflector 39 mounted within the housing; condensing lenses 40 mounted in a tubular lens holder 41 having a rectangular film holder 42 extending transversely thereof and open at both ends for the passage of the film; an adjustable objective lens holder '43 telescopically mounted in the outer end of the tubular lens holder 4!, and objective lenses 44; mounted within the objective lens holder 43. To facilitate the movement of the film through the film holder 42, a pair of vertical idle rollers 45 are mounted within the frame and positioned opposite the entrance and exit to the film holder, as best seen in Fig. 3.

The construction of the film, with its several picture areas or frames, the drum with its sprockets engaging the perforations in the film, and the electro-magnetic means for rotating the drum andthereby the film, is such that the movements of the fork by the energization of the magnet and the spring 32, will rotate the drum and the film to position the next picture area or frame for projection. While any suitable type of pawl and ratchet construction may be employed to rotate the drum, preferably, and as shown, a pawl and ratchet construction such as is disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,979,028, issued on October 30, 1934, to J. B. Ewart, for Pawl and ratchet mechanism, is used. The drum is held in position after each such movement and rotation in the opposite direction is prevented by means of a pawl 46 suitably secured to the top of the U-shaped frame and having its depending end cooperating with circular depressions 41 formed in a circular series in the top of the drum, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the number of holes 4! beingequal to twice the number of teeth on the ratchet wheel.

- The electrical connections 48 from the lamp 38 terminate in slip connections 49, 50 and the careers tee-inter connections W, 52' at the winding on tne' ie'e'trc magnet 2'9 terminate in slip connectinnsbtfSdMithinsdl siting members-55positioned between the slip connections, all "for a purpose herina fter'tb be described.

- Meansare provided for niountiirg the indicator units-on the innersurfacehi"the rear wall of the eczema so that each indicator will "be pos'iti'oned behind a corresponding taZ-ti'on -cirdie, with the projector ih horizontal alignment withthe'station circle. I

1h the particular embodiment illustrated, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each indicator unit is mbimted on the inner 'fa'ce' of the rear wall l6 f the eabinet by means or a channel-'shaped supnor-ting braeket o'r meniber '6, suitably secured to the rear wail of the cabinet, as by welding. 3M1 ihsulated f'malle :contact member -5'I is secared to the rear end -of the bracket for engagement with the lamp siip 'c'onn-ections 49 and 50, and an insulated iemale contact member 58 is secured to thelrear:eniilof thetbracket=for engagement'with electro-m agnet winding slip connections 53 and The wir es from the lamp female contact m'embers 51 are connected in pail'altel itowires 59 and iii], which are connected totwsonrce o f electric current (not shown) One of the wireszfrom each or rthe female contact members fiaiaretled from the bottcm of the cabinet and are$preferably I'connected to a "suitable selector mechanism (not shown), whilethe'other of thewiresris'igioundedzto the board.

"With" the above described "mounting construction, each L or the indicator units may readily Joe 'slidsinto or out of its channel-shaped supporting bracket independently of the othersl tc facilitate .ins-pectiomvrepair or repl a.cement.

The multiple "film :type of indicator uni-ts and the 'manner in which they are mon'nted in the cabinet, are shoWnin-Figs. '6, 7,'8':and 9. These 4 nnits'rareisimilar in construction to the-single film type indicators;-:with the-exception' that they employ two or more films :and, necessarily, -a corresponding number of drums and operating mechanisms therefor. :In' the particular embodi- :ment illustrated, a multiple film typ'e employing two filmsissshown. -th'ere shown, each-such unit comprises a U-shap'e'd frame member i l' having top-and bottom'waHs I81, 1 9 -held spaced apartwby posts 20f;zazprojector' unit2i" mounted A wan and adjacent to v the open-end of the --frame member; :a rotatable Qirum 22 mounted: on a ver-- itical 'shaft -23 suitably: j'ournalled in the top' and bottom *Walls of the U-shaped frame; a -'film -24 mountedno'n -the Idrum '22 and positioned to pass through the :p'roj ector unit; an -e1ectro=magnetifcally operated unit, indicated generallyat? 5 for rotating theatlrum 224; a second' rotatable drum "22 cmounted-on a vertical shaft 23" I-suitabl-y .jotlrnal le'd in the top and bottom walis ofthe frame member and spaced from the operating unit 25'; a second film 24" mounted 'on thedrum #22 'candpositioned'to' pass through the projector unit-in asuperposed' position with relation tofilm 2.4 tan-d :a second electro magneticallyopera-ted vrciea rntce 'filu'rallty or picture areas oriframes which are s'o colored and marked as to provide for the showing-6fanteater:numbattmdzther conditions than ean be shown with ;a single film type of lproiector, For example, the inner Efilm 2'4 may consist scl'iy of-eolored picture areas :or frames -without: indicia, while [the outer film L24 may emnl'oyxnmnbers, symbols, etc, which, when prcjecteddn:ccnibinationiwithiaparticularpieture area otfilm 12:41, Tpro'duc'e ia'proiected pictureof a color :and :indicia combination to indieatezanartitular I-type- :oi "weather showing rceil-ing, direction of wind and velocity, visibility, etc,

llhe projectionlunita'i lis identicalim construction Ito the .proiection unit 220,. except :that two pairsmoizidlewcllers land 15" -are employed, the router :pair "-45" dieing cert-gazed Hey the outer film 24" .andrthm inner gpair 4-5 being engagfiddiy the inner film 22:41.

The electrical connections W8 :trom the lamp 88' terminate inrslipdconnections 49350, for zthe same purpose as do the :aeleetrical connections from the lamp iIhe': electrical connections L51" and 51 of the windings run :the .electroemagnets 29' and. 29" terminate intground slip connection 5.3; the electrical connection 52" oft'hewindings on magnet 29' terminates inv slip-rconnection 54, while --the electrical rconn'ection '15!" or the windings on magnet 29" terminates in slip connection-M".

The rmultiple film :type :or tindicator unit is mounted in a channel-shaped,:supporting .member :56 identical imcon-struction to .the supporting: member 56,, except thattthezsupponting'rmember-56is.;lorrger.

sAn insulated :iiemale contact member '51 :is secured to .the reartend ofithe bracket 56 1 01" engagement with lthedamprsliptconnections "49' and Bil. An insulated female contact :member 15:8 tis secured tovthe rearvend of thebracketifi for engagement with the '-=electromagnet winding rslip connections 153f, -54 and 54''. The wires from the lampscontact member :51 are connected in parallelto the wires Eil and 60. The ground wire from the tcontact 'member- -56 is grounded to the back-of the cabinet, while the other two wires from "the contact member 58 are'ledfrom the bottom of the cabinet and are preferably connected to a -suitable-selector mechanism (not shown) While the electro-magnetically operated weather -indicators may be individually operated by remote'controLor-by local-control, in a manner hereinafterto bedescribed, it is'further contemplated, as a. part of thisinvention, that a plurality of weather maps-be simultaneously operateidlby remote.contrl fromaa central transmitting station. lsuch anearrangement is shown dia- ,grammatically irrFigr 10. As there shown,- a: central transmittingstation 6 I ,'--located,- for example, in"New"Yor-l city, sends electrical impulses over :a communication-channel, such astransmission line .62. "Weather maps"63,-B4,-and -66,'1ocated, for example, inPhiladlphiaJBaltimore, -Washington and Richmond, are tconnected to the line 62 tby drop lines 16.1. Eachtof lthe drop lines 61 is connected to atselector'. x158; which may include one or more well knownselector -mechanisms, to which areconnected. the circuits from each of the weather indicator units --on the particular map controlled by theslector. Thesystemis such that an operator at the central control "station may simultaneously operate 'the corresponding 'stati-on'indicator units .on each of the weather map-S 63, 64565 and 66. 'Aweather mapGQ is 1ocatedat the centraltransmittingstation so" that the'operator may check upon the positions of the indicator units at the various stations. i A simple type of selector box and the electrical connections therefor, including the operation thereof from the central control station, is schematically shown in Fig. 11. ,As there shown, the selector box includes a polarized relay and a uniselector switch; the polarized relay'is connected to the transmission line from the central transmitting station and the uniselector switch is connected to each of the weather indicator units on the weather map. f x

In operation, the operator at the central transmitting station throws the switch A to engage right hand contact B which, upon the closure of switch 0, will permit the flow of current through the field coil D of the relay in: a direction to cause the armature E to be swung to theright to engage contact F, thereby closing the circuit through the electro-magnet G, which through the pawl and ratchet, moves contact armi H of the selector switch to the succeeding stationary contacts 11, I2, I3, ,etc., which are connected to weather indicator units J1, J2, J3, etc., respectively.

When the proper stationary contact I1, 1'2, etc., has been selected, 1. e., the one connected to the weather indicator unit desired to be changed, the operator at the central transmitting station moves the switch A to engage the left hand contact K, which, upon closure of switch C, will permit the How of current through the field coil D inv a reverse direction, thereby causing the armature E to be swung to the left to engage contact L, thereby closing the circuit through the selector contact arm H, the selected stationary contact,

either I1, I2, Is, etc., and through the electro-magnet of the selected weather indicator unit J1, J2, J3, etc., to cause said unit to rotate the drum which it operates to advance the film on the drum to bring another weather picture area into position in the projector to be projected onto the map. Obviously, each closure of switch C by the operator will operate the selected indicator unit to cause the film controlled thereby to be ad vanced to bring the succeeding weather picture frame in proper position to be projected onto the map.

A preferred form of apparatus for operating a weather map locally is shown in Figs. 12,13, 14 and 15. As there shown, the control and operating apparatus is housed in arectangular cabinet member it. The interior of the cabinet is divided into a plurality of rectangular compartments H by means of a longitudinally extending partition member '52 and aplurality of vertical partition members 13. The front of the cabinet is closed by a hingedly mounted cover member .14. The cover member It is provided with a plurality of rectangular openings 75, one for each of the compartments into which the ca'binetis divided.

Mounted within each of the compartments H i a control apparatus for operating a weather indicator unit on the Weather map. Each of the control apparatuses isidentical in construction and comprises a control drum 16; an electrical contact making disc 17; and an electrical switch it. The control drum 16 is journalled in suppo'rtmembers Tl suitably secured to the bottom of the compartment and positioned'so that, as the drum rotates about its longitudinal axis, a portion of the drum extends through the opening '15 in the front cover member 14., A knurled collar 19 is fixedlymounted on one end of the control drum in position to have a portion extend through the opening 15 so that the knurled collar may be turned to rotate the control drum, all as shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15. v

The contact making disc 11 is journalled in support members and is driven by the control drum by means of a sprocket chain 8| which en gages a sprocket 82 formed on the end of the control drum adjacent to the knurled collarand a sprocket wheel 83 fixedly mounted on the contact disc shaft. The contact disc is provided with a circular series of projections 84 adjacent to-its outer periphery.

The electrical switch 18 comprises a support member 85 on which are suitably-mounted a pair of contact members 86, 81, superimposed one on the other and spaced apart by an insulating member 88. The bottom contact member 81 is made of resilient material, such as a stripof spring metal, and its outer free end is positioned to be engaged'in succession by the projections 84 of the contact disc, as the disc is rotated A strip ofstiff insulating material 89 is secured to the support member 85 and engages the undersurr' face of the bottom contact member 81, as shown in Fig. 14. The stiff insulating strip-89 is of less length than the superimposed contact member 8'! and acts as a dampener to prevent the contact member from vibrating after it has been engaged andreleased by one of the projections 84 of th contact'disa,

The bottom contact member 81 is connected to a wire 90 which, in turn, is connected to the wire leading from one of the weather indicator units, while the top contact member 86 is grounded by means of wire 9| to complete the circuit through the electro-inagnet of the Weather indicator unit controlled by the particular contact apparatus.

The circumference of the control drum is divided into a plurality of marking areas, one for each of the picture areas on the film of the weather indicator unit which the drum controls. Each of these marking areas has a reference mark 92 and carries indicia corresponding to the in dicia of the corresponding picture area of the film. On the front cover member 14, at bne side of each of the rectangular openings 1'5 is a reference mark 93. The number and'spacing of the projections 84 on the contact disc are such that, when the reference mark 92'on the control drum is aligned with the reference mark 93 on the cover member 14, the particular type of weather indicated by the marking area aligned with the reference mark 92 will be projected on the map by the particular weather-indicator unit controlled bythe control drum; As the knurled collar is turned, the contact disc'is rotated and the projections 84 engage the lower contact member 81, sending impulses to the weather indicator unit to rotate its film to advance the picture areas or frame into position to be projected on the map.

It is contemplated that the control cabinet 10 be located in the rear of the weather map, :However, it may be located in a separate room or at any'distance from the map desired.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a weather map having weather indicator'units adapted to, show a large number of specific weather conditions,-and which, when grouped in groups of two or more, are capable of indicating any and all types of weather conditions, including visibility, ceiling, and wind direction and velocity. It is contemplated'that when the map is used exclusively for aviation purposes, that each city be provided with two or more multiple film type weather indicators; but, when used for displaying weather conditions to the general public, or as a cynoshure for advertising media, that single film types of indicators be employed.

It is further contemplated that for some purposes it may be desirable to construct some of these maps without the condensing and objective lenses shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7, and that the picture areas or frames on the films be projected onto the basic map 12 by means of the light bulb and reflector alone, in a manner similar to that employed in my aforesaid co-pending application.

Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensible that all of the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in combinations and sub-combinations.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A weather map comprising a panel member having a map associated therewith, said panel member having a plurality of translucent areas thereon each designating a particular locality on the map; a plurality of weather indicating units mounted behind said panel, each of said units being positioned under one of said areas designating a particular locality, each of said units including a projector and two endless films, each divided into a plurality of frames and so positioned that their frames when in position to be projected are superimposed, the frames of one of said films being colored, each frame of different coloring and the frames of the other film having different indicia formed thereon, the

, bined image of any one of the colored frames with any one of the indicia carrying frames designates a particular weather condition; each of said projectors being mounted in the rear of said panel in a position to permit the combined image of a superimposed pair of frames to be projected onto one of said translucent areas, whereby said projected image may be seen from the front of said panel; and separate means for moving each of said films in each of said indicator units to bring any selected pair of frames into superimposed position to have their combined images projected to show a particular weather condition of the particular area aligned with the projector.

2. A weather map as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said separate means for moving the films comprises a step by step electromagnet operating mechanism adapted to be controlled and operated from a remote control station.

JOSEPH B. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

